Ty Dolla $ign Gets Personal Before Album Release

Tyrone William Griffin Jr., more famously known as Ty Dolla $ign, has become the king of features. Stereogum even put together a list of his 45 best features in 2016 alone. One of his most popular songs is Fifth Harmony’s “Work From Home” which was a smash hit last summer.

While working for Def Jam Recordings in 2010, he got his first bit of recognition for being featured on YG’s “Toot It and Boot It.” However, once he was signed to Wiz Khalifia’s Taylor Gang Records in 2013 was when things took off. By 2017, he’d become so sought after that he’s now turning down opportunities to be featured on other artist’s records.

“I turn people down a lot. People send shit in and if I don’t feel anything, which doesn’t mean a song is or isn’t dope, I just don’t hop on it.”

He’s got his own unique style. One thing about him most people don’t know is he’s a huge John Mayer fan.

“I love basically every album he ever put out,” Griffin says of Mayer. “I love his writing, I love his guitar playing, I love his voice. He’s just a dope all-around artist.”

After making a whole career from singing, rapping, songwriting and producing, it’s no wonder he can’t always release every song that means the most to him.

“There’s been many songs that I don’t feel that I’ve put out. [But if] somebody in the room feels it, if it makes them smile or dance or makes them feel good, then, you know, I’ll do it.”

He’s a people pleaser and knows how to reach his audience.

It’s the brutal honesty in his lyrics that make Griffin come off so genuine. His debut solo album titled Free TC is an ode to his older brother Big TC who is currently incarcerated for a murder charge.

“If he was out we’d probably be making songs together right here in the studio,” says Griffin.

However, the album shined the spotlight so much on TC it made his time in prison extremely difficult.

“After Free TC, he just got hella attention and something happened where it got back to them and he ended up getting locked in the hole for a long-ass time, so right now there isn’t a song on Beach House 3 with him.”

With a new album on the horizon, Griffin doesn’t appear to be backing off the music scene anytime soon. With 2017 halfway over he’s already appeared on 26 singles. Thankfully for fans, if they ever need a fix they never have to look far.